Adjustable guide arm



Jan. 22, 1935. R. P. BALDWIN ADJUSTABLE GUIDE ARM Filed Jan. 17, 1934 INVENfoJZ flssEBa/dwm Patented Jan. 22, 1935 1 9 934 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE v -"-1;9'ss,9s4 fj Aomosmmi GUIDE-ARM:

Ross 1!. Baldwin, Drexel Hill, Pa. a Application Jam 17, 193;,

rs (01.54-'7l My invention relates to new and useful imthe accompanying drawing forming a part of provements in an adjustable guide arm *for use thisapplication', in W-hic'hiv r in connection with toilet flush tanks and has for l is a 'viewfillustrat i-ngthe manner of usone of its objects to "provide a device'of this ing myinvention. '5 character wherein the guide arm may be securely Fig. 2 is "an enlarged perspective view of the 55 attached to any one of a number of 'difierent adiustable gu idef-armembodying my invention. sized overflow "pipesand the :guide for the stem Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof with the clampof the float valve then positioned so'as to be in ingjnut -in a'fsl-ig'htly 'difierent' position. endwise alignment with the center of the valve '4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3

seat. and showing 'the'use of the lock nut.

Another object of the invention "is to provide, In carrying out myinvention as herein emas an article of manufacture, an adjustable bodied, 5 represents a conventiona-l illustration guide arm capable of adjustment for the 'purof the flushing fixture or a toilet flush tank inpose of clamping it on an overflow pipe as well eluding *an outlet-6 surrounded *by a valve seat valve stem. is normally closed by a float valve 9 provided .A further object of the invention is to conwith a stemll) which "is connected with a valve struct an adjustable .guide arm as a unitary aslever mechanism; a 'p 'ionof which is shown at sembled structure which may be readily clamped ll, tor unseating the' valve. I g

on .an overflow pipe and "the guide means for the I The 'edll e b de 1m 2 includes a solid 20 float valve stem quickly adjusted 'for positionring yin n e ly "threaded Spindle ing the same in the proper location relative to 14 w ch has a 'S10 t"15 formed there ou the center of the valve .seat. longitudinally thereof and projecting vertically Generally, at the vpresent time, flush tank 'flx- 0 parallel the bore'through the ring.

tures are constructed with a number of different t p d j da'i y mounted a p- 25 sized overflow pipes and the distances between ns l nc u a pa r O ps aced the centers of the overflow pipe and its assoce app y equal tothe'width of the ciated valve seat vary considerably. Where a ring 50 a to emb t e latter for adjustment guide arm is manufactured for use with the e v t e ach p s a D d notch largest size overflow pipe, it is very diflicult to 18 formed therein Which provides bearing u 30 properly attach it to one of the maller sizes faces for contact With the OVBIfiOW pipe 011 which and where the guide means is fixed relative to the device is mounted- Said Clamping l w s the collar which is attached to the overflow pipe moved forwardly for j t e p p and the float valve will not properly seat unless the held in any adju d po by a mil 9 01' distances happen to be correct for the fixture equivalent means ewed 0 the te y 35 on which the arm is used. These disadvantages threaded p d e are entirely overcome my device because the threaded. Splndle is also mounted a when clamped on the overflow pipe there are at element 20 W h1ch also 1133s threaded C011- least fi e bearing points which give a good grip nect1on mm the spindle and said bearing mem- 40 on the pipe and prevent any possibility f ti1t ber has a hole 21 extend ng completely through 40 ing' from one side to the other and after being the same In a sliralght lme PP When Sald mounted in place the guide can be accurately adbeanng member 15 pljoperlv posltlonedthe 11016 justed relative to the center of the valve seat therethmugh W111 allgn Wlth the slot 15 and s 1 s erl close the permit passage of the stem 10 of the float valve. 0 that the valve W1 way p p y It will be obvious that the nut 19 and the bearoutlet.

mg member 20 may be duplicates of each other t these. other m Vlew this or they may be similar except as to size so that Ventlon q i m the deta'fls of cFmstructmn in production it will be unnecessary to make tools and combination of elements hereinafter set for two dissimilar parts It will also be under 50 l' and then Specifically designated by stood that if more accurate adjustments for the 50 clalmsbearing member are desired, additional holes In order those in the art to Whlch may be formed in aid bearing member this invention appertains may understand how In practice, th ring 13 has an inside diamto make and use the same, I will describe its eter at least equal to the outside diameter of construction in detail, referring by numerals to the largest overflow pipe used in toilet flush 55 as properly centering the guide for the float 7 "and carrying an foverflowpipe The outlet tanks and then by slipping the ring over any overflow pipe the adjustable guide arm may be securely clamped thereon by screwing the nut 19 forward or toward the ring. This will force the lips of the clamping jaw 16 against parts of the overflow pipe and draw the side of the ring 13 opposite the clamping jaw against another part of the overflow pipe until the adjustable guide arm is securely fastened. When the device is properly mounted on the overflowv pipe there will be at least flve points of contact on the overflow pipe thereby overcoming any chance of oscillatory movements which not only tend to loosen the arm from the pipe but also throw the bearing out of proper alignment.

Next the bearing member is screwed in or on as the case may be to adjust it relative to the valve seat 7, which adjustingmovements are continued until the hole 21 in said bearingmember 20 is above the center of the valve seat." After the adjustment is obtained, the valve, stem 10 is projected throughthe hole ZlQand the slot 15 and. then permanently connected to vthe float valve 9. The assembling of the valve! stem in the bearing member preventsrotationof the latter on the spindle 1f}: thus securing said bearing member in its adjusted positionf In order to temporarily hold the bearingmember 20 in a fixed or adjusted positiona lock or jamb nut 22 may be screwedonto -the spindle l4 and caused to engage said bearing-member. Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:- n v 1. An adjustable guide arm comprising a ring, an externally threaded longitudinally slotted spindle supported by saidring, means adjustably mounted on said spindle and ,coactinguwith the ring to clamp the arm on an overflow pipe,

and an apertured bearing member adjustably mounted on the spindle and adapted to guide a valve stem passing through the, aperture and I the slot in the spindle.

2. An adjustable guide arm comprising a ring adapted to encircle an overflow pipe, an externally threaded and longitudinally slotted spindle carried by said ring, a clamping jaw slidably mounted on the spindle and embracing the ring for clamping the overflow pipe between a portion of said jaw and the ring, means having threaded connection with the spindle and coacting with the clamping jaw to force the same forward relative to the ring, andan apertured guide having threaded connection with the spindle for adjustment lengthwise thereof to vary the distance between the center of the overflow pipe on permit the projection of a valve stem therethrough.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein the clamping jaw includes a pair of lips having V.-ohaped notches therein.

4. An adjustable guide arm consisting of a solid ring adapted to encircle an overflow pipe, an externally threaded spindle projecting from said ring, and having a longitudinal slot formed therein'parallel with the opening through the ring, aclamping jaw slidably mounted on said spindle and includinga pair of lips adapted to project .over the ends of said ring, said lips having V-shaped notches therein to provide a plurality of contact surfaces which engage the overflow pipe at separated locations to hold the guide armin a steady condition, means having threaded connection with the spindle to move the clamping jaw forward relative to the ring, and other means also having threaded connection with the spindle whereby said means may be adjusted-.longit'udinally of the spindle and said means having an aperture therethrough adapted to be moved into alignment with the slot to permit passage of a valve stem whereby the latter will be guided.

5. The structure in claim 1, in combination with a jamb nut screwed onto the spindle and engaging the bearing member.

Ross P. BALDWIN. 

